There was a message too – explaining why the potato, a traditional staple of the Irish diet – had been sent on the nearly 300-mile journey across the Irish sea.

Dermot Bradley’s sister-in-law Edel, from Birmingham, had sent the vegetable as a thank you, to mark her appreciation at his help in organising her potato-themed big day which had taken place in Northern Ireland.

Mr Bradley told the BBC: “We just erupted into laughter.

“The postie told me that in 14 years that was the most unusual delivery he ever made.”

Of his sister-in-law’s wedding, Mr Bradley added: “She’s a good practical Derry woman so she went and bought two stone of spuds to decorate the hotel."

“Perishable items including flowers, fresh fruit [and] vegetables” are on Royal Mail’s list of restricted items – those which are expected to be able to withstand a 48-hour journey with a first class stamp as a minimum, but which “must be suitably sealed to prevent leakage or tainting of other items” in a packaged box.